Author: Maria Alfano
I was really curious about the best health care tips that I should be aware of in midlife and beyond. My doctor once described the human body like this – when we are young it runs like a “Rolex” watch. Everything is well-oiled and works just like its supposed to. As we age, the body becomes more like a “Timex.” It works but it’s sluggish You will often need to adjust the time because the watch speeds up or slows down incrementally over the life of the watch.
So how does a Timex watch compare to the midlife body? As we age there are so many things we could be doing to take better care of ourselves. The creaky knees, the twinges of pain, and the irregularity are definite signs of aging. Or are they? Could something else be happening on the inside?
We took the liberty of reaching out to a professional, frontline worker to find some helpful health care tips for mature adults. You will be surprised by what we discovered as we asked our questions. Your health is in your hands. Considering midlife means you are heading down the other side of the hill, take the time to take care of “you”!
Professional Health Care Tips From A Frontline Worker
Meet Cristina D. She is a frontline worker from Toronto, Canada. She agreed to share her thoughts, concerns, and answer your health care questions. Take time to consider how these may help you or a loved one.
A big thank you to her for taking time out of her day to talk to us.
Who Is Cristina?
Q – tell us about yourself and why you chose a career in health care?
Cristina D – I am a 45-year-old wife and mom of 2 boys aged 13 and 11. I enjoy baking and cooking (when I have the time). I chose a field in health care because I have always wanted to help people.
Q – How long have you been working in this field?
Cristina D – I have been working in the same field for 21 years.
Health Care Trends
Q – Have you seen any trends in your industry that make you shake your head and ask “why”? If so, would you kindly share 1 or 2 of these?
Cristina D – One thing that makes me shake my head is the physician’s need to order tests and exams without really speaking to the patient. With most things being digital and electronic, there is a lack of “patient care”. Some physicians rely solely on results from tests without listening to the patients. It’s great for me because it keeps my profession working, but it puts a burden on the system. And sometimes unnecessary tests are done. It’s a digital world and very few health care providers “hear” what the patient is saying.
Q – What are some exciting emerging trends that folks may not be aware of yet?
Cristina D – Robotics are being used more and more. Surgeries are being done faster and with less invasive techniques as more equipment is controlled by robots. The recovery times are a lot less and hospital stays are shorter because of this. Let’s face it who wants to spend time in hospital when you can go home quicker and recover in the comfort of your own home?
Robotics
Studies have shown that more than 25,000 people per year die from medical mistakes resulting from botched surgeries. Trusting a robot to operate on you can be difficult, but so many advances have been made in the field of medical robotics that it is almost second nature to have a mechanical surgeon take excellent care of you during the procedure. Robots are easily sterilized thus also reducing the chances of infection. Not to mention the precision with which these robotics can get to the root of the matter. AI (artificial intelligence) also reduces the stress on the health care system and on health care workers. A more alert and surgeon with more precise equipment makes recovery better and faster for the patient.
HeALTH cARE mISTAKE
Q – What is the #1 mistake you see with respect to health care in folks over the age of 50?
Cristina D – People stop taking care of themselves. They figure the aches and pains are part of the aging process. Yes, most are, but remember to go for your yearly check-ups. Don’t forget to ask for bloodwork and do a complete physical every year. It is especially important to have these yearly physicals so you have a baseline. You want to know what your normal is. Anything outside your normal should be looked into further. (Some people have abnormally low heart rates or blood pressure, but that is normal for them).
Health Care Tips
Q – What would you recommend are the top 3 health care “things” people should do for themselves on a regular basis? How often should they do them?
Cristina D – For women, please I cannot stress enough the importance of breast self-exams and mammograms. In Ontario, women can sign up for the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). You do not need a requisition for a mammogram from your doctor. Every 2 years, you can just book your appointment. Very simple.
In the USA, most states offer their own breast screening programs. Or, you can reach out to the American Breast Cancer Foundation for additional information. Don’t forget that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Together we can fight this ugly monster and abolish it forever.
For men, please get your prostate checked, and do the PSA bloodwork test every year. Yes, every year. Even if your doctor tells you it is not necessary, just do it. Your PSA can change and start increasing and you won’t even know.
A PSA is a prostate-specific antigen blood test that measures your PSA levels. Normal PSA levels vary by age. Men between the ages of 50 and 50 should have a PSA reading of less than 3.5 ng/ml while men over the age of 70 should not have a reading higher than 6.5 ng/ml. PSA levels can change drastically from year to year. Stay on top of your readings to stay ahead of prostate cancer. PSA levels are not your only clue. If you experience any changes in your ability to urinate, don’t delay talking to your medical provider. It really is a matter of life and death.
Health Care Awareness
Q – Are there 1 or 2 chronic illnesses that you are seeing in patients that could have been avoided with regular medical checkups? Why?
Cristina D – We are seeing a lot of cancers, unfortunately. Most, if caught early enough, can be treated and “cured” with great success. BUT, people need to follow through on checkups and bloodwork and seeing the doctor when they don’t feel right. Follow your gut! If something doesn’t feel right or seems off, please go see your doctor. The worst that could happen is you are fine, and there is nothing to worry about. Some people feel they are invincible. “Cancer won’t happen to me”. They think that eating right and exercising is all they need to do. While this is great, you still need to see a doctor. Cancer can be a silent killer and can creep up on you without you even knowing it. You won’t always feel sick; you won’t always have aches and pains. Sometimes you can feel good while the cancer is attacking your body.
Final Comments
Q – Any final comments or words of advice for folks in midlife and beyond?
Cristina D – My last bit of advice is to enjoy your life. In the blink of an eye, things can change dramatically. Stop and smell the roses; eat what you want (in moderation); travel if you can; don’t take anything for granted. Tell those in your life that you love them. Have no regrets. We are all here for a limited time. We can never know when our time is up.
In Summary
You’re responsible for your own health. Take charge today and do whatever it takes to make sure you are on top of any potential concerns. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. Trust me you would rather know what’s going on inside before things go terribly wrong. To Cristina D a big for her professional insights and health care tips. To all frontline workers, thank you for your service.
We would love to hear from you. What burning questions do you have about your health care? We hope you found these professional health care tips helpful!